A Building Site Like No Other…….

A couple of months ago I had the distinct pleasure of going on the 2012 Olympic Stadium Tour. Like most people I have an uncanny ability to hold myself composed on building sites but struggled not to feel like a little kid whilst in Stratford's latest lofty extension. Non-Olympic fans would have made the mistake of being completely unexcited about heavy construction equipment, mountains of rubble and the gallery of builders’ crack that greeted us that fine September morning.

Regeneration and lasting legacy are the theme of London’s Olympics. Unlike its Beijing sister the priority is to develop existing sporting venues and build valued facilities for the local community. But like its Beijing sister the London Olympics will still deliver on the spectacle and brilliance.

The big Bertha below is a soil washing machine which sifts and sorts what’s toxic from what’s not. At the end of the wash the clean soil is reused in the creation of the Olympic park:

The waterways meandering through the Olympic site will be rejuvenated and provide a greener alternative to transporting heavy steel pipes, blocks, widgets, other building paraphernalia and thingamajigs:

After the games the 80,000 seat stadium will be transformed into a 25,000 capacity venue that will provide sporting, educational and cultural events for the local community as well as providing a new London hub for elite athletes:

Following the games the Athletes Village will provide 3000 new homes in London’s East end.

It requires a lot of imagination to envisage the scale and promise of the 2012 London Olympics - my fingers are crossed and eyes peeled. See you on the 2010, 2012 Olympic Tour.